Transvaginal Mesh Banned by Scottish Health Board

The National Health Services Scottish Board has ordered that the use of transvaginal mesh banned officially, after hearing testimonies of victims of the devices earlier this month.

On the morning of June 3rd, campaigners Elaine Holmes and Olive McIlroy provided evidence about transvaginal mesh’s harmful and life-limiting side effects to the Public Petitions Committee.

“We can’t change what happened to us but it’s not too late to make the changes we believe will protect others from future injury saving them and their families from pain, frustration and helplessness and possible disability,” Holmes said in her opening statement. She later testified that her transvaginal mesh device had so crippled her that she often had to use a wheelchair, and could barely walk from her front door to her driveway.

NHS Dumfries and Galloway are now the first board in Britain to respond in favor of patients with transvaginal mesh injuries by banning the plastic devices. The board’s medical director Dr. Angus Cameron told doctors across the region to stop using polypropylene transvaginal mesh, as the devices have been linked to severe, long-lasting injuries in women who have the implants.

Transvaginal mesh victims across the UK have called for the procedures to be suspended pending more in-depth safety testing, implementation of a transvaginal mesh implant register, improved consent forms so patients are more informed of potential problems, and mandatory reporting of device complications by doctors and surgeons.

Cameron stated: “Following concerns that have been raised nationally and internationally, we have taken a local decision to suspend the use of meshes.

“It is obvious from national and international studies that the rate of long-term severe complications is relatively high and we feel that the benefit/risk ratio that is now apparent does not support the use of meshes.”

He wrote: “We would support independent research to identify the benefit/risk issues in the use of transvaginal meshes.”

He added: “We would support the mandatory reporting of all adverse incidents by health professionals and indeed we have the processes in place to ensure that this happens.

“The set-up of a Scottish transvaginal mesh register will require considerable resources to develop and maintain but we would support this approach.”

Shadow Health Secretary Neil Findlay said: “The revelation that NHS Dumfries and Galloway have taken the responsible step to suspend transvaginal mesh is both welcome and explosive.

“The Cabinet Secretary told us last September that he could not do this because he feared the NHS would be sued by manufacturers. Now we learn that this health board have taken the correct step to protect women while Alex Neil has chosen to protect the profits of a multinational corporation. This is an outrage and a scandal.”

The Strom Law Firm Fights for Women in Transvaginal Mesh Personal Injury Cases

Transvaginal mesh kits were initially produced to help with pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. Several varieties of mesh kits exist, but transvaginal mesh specifically was supposed to produce less scarring and pain because the procedure was less invasive. However, vaginal mesh slings can cause a host of problems, including organ perforation, infection, internal scarring, continued organ prolapse, and bleeding. If you or a loved one has pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence, have had a transvaginal mesh device implanted, and have since experienced detrimental complications, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced lawyers at Strom Law, LLC can help. We offer free consultations, so please contact us today, and we can help get you on the road to recovery. 803.252.4800

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